CASE DISMISSED

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 978, 22 May 1930, Page 15

CASE DISMISSED

POSSESSION OF GOODS A charge of theft preferred against George Albert Collett at the Police Court this morning was dismissed. Police allegations were That Collett had removed after an auction sale goods other than those he had bought. Collett was charged with stealing four planer knives of a total value of £l6, and belonging to the National Machinery Co., on February 25. Mr. Sullivan appeared for defendant, and entered a plea of not guilty. Alan Stuart Blackie, a salesman in the employ of the complainant company, said the knives had been left by some wood-working machinery at the auction sale. The machinery was marked sold, and it was easy to see that the knives were part of that lot. An auctioneer employed by RobertSGn Bros., Joseph Henry Baker, recalled that the machinery and knives had been on the top floor of the building where the auction was held. Collett had bought a small quantity of scrap metal on that floor. • It was admitted by Mr. Sullivan that defendant had sold the knives to a joiner, but they wdre certainly not stolen. They had been with the old metal when defendant went to collect what he had bought. The knives were wraped in brown paper, but the ends were rusty. Collett, who did not know their value, sold them to the joiner quite openly, telling the purchaser where he had got them. “It is his first appearance before the court,” counsel added. ‘‘Case dismissed,” was the magistrate 1 * onl y comment. --- - .